Which exam does Tennessee use?
Tennessee does not require a state-specific medical assistant exam. The most widely recognized medical assisting credential accepted by Tennessee employers is the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). NHA states that its exams are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
NHA delivers the exam on a computer at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring. Candidates register through NHA and schedule from their NHA account. The exam is the same standardized test in every state, so studying the NHA CCMA test plan means studying the blueprint your exam is built from.
Two other national credentials are sometimes used in Tennessee: the CMA (AAMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the RMA (AMT) from American Medical Technologists. All three are accepted by most employers, but the CCMA is the most popular because of its broad scope and NHA's national recognition. For a side-by-side comparison, see our CCMA vs CMA vs RMA guide.
CCMA exam format in Tennessee
The CCMA certification exam is a single computer-based multiple-choice test, taken at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring.
Question count and time limit
Per NHA's CCMA test plan, the exam has 150 scored items plus 30 unscored pretest items that NHA uses to validate questions for future exams; you cannot tell which are which. You have 180 minutes (3 hours). NHA reports a scaled score from 200 to 500, and a scaled score of 390 or higher passes.
Content domains
The NHA CCMA test plan organizes the exam into seven domains: Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (15 items), Anatomy and Physiology (8), Clinical Patient Care (84), Patient Care Coordination and Education (12), Administrative Assisting (12), Communication and Customer Service (12), and Medical Law and Ethics (7). The topics below fall within those domains:
- Clinical Patient Care — vital signs, patient prep, charting, clinical workflow
- Phlebotomy — venipuncture, capillary draws, specimen handling
- EKG & Cardiovascular — 12-lead EKG, lead placement, cardiac terminology
- Infection Control — standard precautions, sterilization, OSHA bloodborne pathogens
- Pharmacology Basics — drug classifications, dosing math, side effects
- Medical Office Administration — scheduling, EHR, billing codes, insurance verification
- Patient Preparation & Vitals — history intake, vital sign measurement, anthropometrics
- Safety & Emergency — first aid, CPR, fire safety, hazardous materials
- Medical Terminology — prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviations
- Law & Ethics — HIPAA, patient rights, scope of practice, confidentiality
Delivery and accommodations
The exam is delivered in English; NHA does not translate it into other languages. Accommodations for documented disabilities can be requested through NHA; the candidate handbook recommends allowing 30 days for review.
CCMA scope of practice in Tennessee
The CCMA is a national credential from NHA, not a state license. What a medical assistant may do in Tennessee is set by state law and by the delegation of the supervising provider, and it differs from state to state. Check the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners and your employer for current Tennessee rules.
The CCMA is a national credential from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and the exam is the same in every state. What a medical assistant may do in Tennessee is set by state law and by the delegation of the supervising provider, and it differs from state to state. Confirm current rules with the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners before relying on this page..
Training and eligibility
NHA, not Tennessee, sets CCMA eligibility. Per NHA you need a high school diploma or equivalent (or expect to earn one within 18 months) and one qualifying pathway, such as completing a medical assistant training program within the last five years or supervised work experience in the field. Program length varies by school. To find a program, check the Tennessee Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners website at https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/me.htmlor your local community college catalog.
Eligibility is confirmed through the attestations you make when you register with NHA. Check the NHA candidate handbook for the current eligibility pathways.
How to apply for the CCMA exam in Tennessee
Once your training program submits your completion to NHA, follow these steps to register for the certification exam.
Step 1 — Create an NHA account
Go to https://www.nhanow.com and create a candidate account. Use the same legal name that appears on your government ID — your admission letter is matched against your ID at the testing center, and any mismatch can delay check-in.
Step 2 — Confirm your eligibility
NHA asks you to attest that you meet its eligibility requirements and may audit those attestations. If you are unsure which pathway fits you, check the candidate handbook or contact NHA support before paying.
Step 3 — Choose how and where to test
Depending on your situation you can test at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring. PSI locations are listed at https://www.psiexams.com.
Step 4 — Pay the exam fee
NHA shows the current exam fee at registration, and payment is due when you apply. Some employers and training programs reimburse this fee; ask yours before paying out of pocket.
Step 5 — Schedule and confirm
Pick a date and time. You will receive a confirmation email from NHA. Per the candidate handbook, if you do not cancel or reschedule with PSI or another remote-proctoring provider at least 24 hours before your appointment, the exam fee is forfeited.
Exam day checklist for Tennessee CCMA candidates
Give yourself plenty of time on exam day and follow the arrival instructions in your NHA confirmation email and the candidate handbook.
What to bring
- A current government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license or passport) that matches your registration; if the address differs, NHA may ask for proof of address
- Your NHA confirmation email or appointment details
What to leave at home
- Phones, watches, earbuds, and other electronic devices
- Notes, textbooks, or study guides; no reference materials are allowed
During the exam
The exam is timed at 180 minutes and has 180 items including pretest items, which works out to about one minute per item. The exam must be completed in one continuous session. Read each question carefully and eliminate obviously wrong answers before choosing.
CCMA exam cost and retakes
NHA sets the CCMA exam fee and shows the current price when you register; it is the same in Tennessee as everywhere else. We do not quote a dollar figure here because NHA does not publish one on its CCMA certification page, and it can change.
On top of the exam fee, plan for training program tuition, which varies widely by provider. Many programs include the exam fee in their tuition; ask before you enroll.
Retakes: per NHA's candidate handbook, you must wait 30 days after a failed attempt and may take the exam 3 times with at least 30 days between attempts; after that, a one-year wait applies. Each retake requires re-registering and paying the full exam price. Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding may be available through Tennessee's workforce boards for eligible candidates; ask your local American Job Center.
How to prepare for the Tennessee CCMA exam
Most candidates need 8-10 weeks of focused study after finishing their training program to feel fully prepared. Here is the study plan we recommend for Tennessee.
Week 1-2 — Review the NHA content outline
Download the NHA CCMA test plan and read the outline cover to cover. Make a checklist of the seven test-plan domains and start reviewing the ones you feel weakest on.
Week 3-6 — Practice questions daily
Use the CCMA practice test bank to drill 30-50 multiple-choice questions per day. Read every explanation — even for questions you get right — so you understand the reasoning NHA expects. Practice-test percentages do not convert directly to NHA's 390 scaled passing score, so treat them as a guide and aim for consistently high scores before scheduling.
Week 7-8 — Skills rehearsal
Practice each clinical skill (venipuncture, EKG, vital signs, patient prep) out loud with a study partner. Narrate every step. If you have access to a lab or mannequin at your training program, book practice time.
Week 9-10 — Full-length simulations
Take at least two full-length timed simulations in our CCMA exam simulator. Build your test-day stamina by sitting through a full-length timed run.